Automobile protection plate



Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITEDFSTATES jOLIVER o. RITZA WoLLnR, ononioiieo, 'ILLrNoIs AUToiwoBrrn PitoTEoTioN PLATE Application'led September 28, 1929. Serial 17o. 395,772.

My invention relates to automobile protece tion plates of the typel comprising a kick plate formed ofmetal or other suitable material, and preferably in the form of a one-piece casting or stamping.V It is the object of my invention to provide aV new and improved form and arrangement of parts by the use of which a kick plate may be securely held in position so as to resist any pressure likely to im? be brought to bear upon it and so as to prevent any possibility of rattlingywhile'at lthe same time being arranged'so as to be readily releasable from the car by the application of pressure on the plate in some direction other lli than that in which pressure is normally applied to the device in use. one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved means for mounting a kick plate in position comprising resilient means which "33a is displaced more or less by the operation of applying the plate in position and which is held under tension continuously While the plate is in position, the tension upon `the holding devices when the' late is in position 72:1 being less than that on t e holding devices at some point inthe operation of applying the plate in position.- Itis one'of the objects of my invention tov providev devices having snap engagement/with a kickplate for hold'- 1W ingvit releasably'v in position, thewarrangement being such that'the kick plate is held strongly inposition `against movementftrans-` versely of therunningboard in thedirection' i in which Apressure 'is applied to 'the `kick plate :mi in use, while being at the same time .readily releasable by upwardpressure on the platel or by pressure 'longitudinally' of the'plate.l

It is one of the objects of my invention to improve devices ofthis type in sundrydetails *W as hereinafter' pointedout; .The preferred means by which I have accomplished my sev-v eral objects are illustrated'in-the.drawings and are hereinaftery specificallydescribed. That which I believe tobe new and desire to "3 cover by Letters Patent is setv forth inthe claims. Y In the drawings,` i

Fig. 1 is a front face lview of one form yof my improved protection platemeans in posilo tion upon afragment'aryportion` of a run To thisend, it is ning boardV which is shown in vertical cross y section; v

- Fig. 2 is a rearv face view of the device lasi shown irl-Fig. 1, with portions of the device broken away for better illustrating the 4con- 55; struction; -A j` 1 Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectiongtaken :at lineB-f?)v of Fig.2; Y

j 4 is a view similar :to Fig. 2, showing af `mod1iied 'form of construction, the :upperl n portion of the device being broken away and the runnin-g board being `removed ;l 1- i Fig. 5 is a rear face view of one end portion of a modified form of kiok'plate device; and

Fig; 6 is a cross section through the device of Fig. v5 a'tLline 6 6 therein, and showing also the means fors'upporting the plate in position above the running board of 'a car.

Referring now to Figsl 1, 2 and '3,110 indicates the runningboard of 4a car in laterally 7n; extending position with respectv tothe bod-y 11. Upon the running board 101 have provided means for releasably `supporti-ng in.

.positiona kick plate member 12, preferably in the form of a casting `comprlsinga rear- 'n wardly extending flange 13 for mounting the plate in position. The flange 13 is provided with two openings 14 and 15 therethrough in" spaced relation ktoeach other, through VVwhich open-ings extend two retaining devices l.

lfand 17 mounted in position upon ,therunl ning board 10 in spacedrelation to eachother corresponding to the spacedpositionof the openings'land 15.

' For applying the plate12 in Vposition upon 65 Y the running board, the plate is moveddown# wardly for engaging the openings `14: and 15 over the clips 16 and1'7 respectively', and the Vpl ate 'isvthen moved longitudinally; of itself towardtthe right in said `Fig.`^2` for` bringing #l thc' baclnvardlyturnedtop portions ofthe clipsinto strong yielding engagement with top 'facel portions of the flange 13, theatop facel of the llange 13 VV'being preferably hol lowed ontV slio'fhtly' for. enabling the |`spring .945 clips 16 and l?? to center theange 13in the i 'well Vunderstood manner. "As isyclearly shown in Fig.Y 3, the spring clips-16 `and 17 are of such `width asi to` fit snugly Withlnthe openings 14 and 15 transversely thereof.1A As 'lm a consequence, the plate 12 is held rigidly against any movement transversely of the running board 10 and is held strongly in position so as to prevent rattling of the parts or accidental displacement of the device. At the same time, the plate is very readily removable by the application of pressure thereto toward the left in Fig. 2.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, a cast plate 18 is employed having a rearwardly eX- tending flange 19 at its bottom edge provided with openings 20 and 21 therethrough in spaced relation to each other. In the construction here shown, a bar 22 is provided adapted to be secured to a running board by the use of bolts 23. The bar 22 is provided with a securing device 24 at one end in the form of a hook, and with a securing device 25 at its opposite end portion in the form of a spring latch, the securing devices 24 and 25 being preferably formed integrally with the bar 22. For applying the plate 18 in position, the opening 20 in the flange 19 is first entered over the hook 24 into engagement therewith, andthe opposite end of the plate 18 is then moved downwardly for bringing the spring latch 25 into engagement with the flange 19 through the opening 21, the engaging portion of the kick plate construction brought into engagement with the hook 24 being substantially circular so as to permit the kick plate device to swing on a horizontal aXis with respect to the hook. The securing devices 24 and 25 are adapted also to have snug engagement with the sides of the openings 2O and 21. respectively whereby the plate 18 is held strongly in position against movement transversely of the running board while being at the same time readily detachable from the running board by the application of upward pressure upon the plate 18.

` In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a kiek plate 26 is employed which may be in the form of a casting or otherwise as may be desired. The plate 26 is mounted in position upon the body 27 of a car directly above the inner edge portion of the running board 28 by means of headed devices 29 preferably in the form of boltssecured directly to the body 27. The plate 26 which is in the form of a shallow housing is provided on its back face with depending lugsV 30 substantially in the form of yokes in spaced relation tothe 'front wall so: arranged that the spaced. legs 31 of each of the yokes straddle one of the bolts 29. "As is best shown in Fig. 6, the legs 31 are preferably given a slight curvature so as to cause a slight distortion thereof when the plate is forced downwardly into engagement with the bolts 29.

By the use of my improved construction, I have provided for the secure support of a kick plateindependently of a step plate, it being understood, of course, that a tread plate might be used adiacent to the kiek plate portion if desired. By the use of my improved supporting means for the kick plate, the plate is readily removable as may be desired for access to any portion of the machine in rear of the plate.

While I prefer to employ some such construction as that shown by my dra-wings, it is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to the forms shown except so far as the claims may be so limited by the prior art.

I claim 1. An automobile protection plate means, comprising in combination a kick plate having bearing faces in spaced relation thereon, and means mounted on the running board of a ear in correspondingly spaced relatior adapted by snap engagement with said bearing faces for holding the kick plate .detachably in upstanding position near the inner edge of said running board.

2. An automobile protection plate means, comprising in combination a kickt plate havv ing substantially horizontally disposed bearing faces at opposite end portions, and means carried by the car in spaced relation thereon adapted by sliding engagement with said bearing faces for holding the kick plate detachably in upstanding position near the inner edge of the running board of the car.

3. An automobile protection plate means, comprising in combination a kick plate having bearing faces in spaced relation thereon, and means carried by a car in correspondingly spaced relation adapted normally by engagement with said bearing faces to support said plate in upstanding position near the inner edge of the running board of the car but adapted readily to be released for dismounting said plate by the application of pressure thereto in a direction different from that in which pressure is normally applied to the plate in use. i

4. An automobile protection plate means, comprising incombination a'kick plate having substantially vertically disposed bearing faces in spaced relation thereon, and means carried by a car in correspondingly spaced relation adapted normally by engagement with said bearing faces to support said plate in upstanding position near'the inner edge of the running board of the car but adapted readily to be released for dismounting the plate by the application of pressure upwardly thereon.

5. In an automobile protection plate means, the combination of a kiek plate having bearing faces in spaced relation thereon, a. hooi-z mounted on the running board of a car for engaging one of said bearing faces, and moans carried by said running board in spaced relL tion to said hook adapted by engagement with the other bearing face for removably mounting said plate in opstanding position near the inner edge'of said running board, compris ing resilient means put under tension by the operation of attaching the plate in position and serving normally by cooperation with said hook to hold the plate fixedly inposition.

G. An automobile protectionplate means,

. comprising in combination a kick plate having a vbackwardly vextending Vflange at its lower edge, and means carried by the runningboard of a car near its inner edge adapted by releasable engagement with said flange to hold said plate in vupstanding position.

A 7. An automobile protection plate means, comprising in combinationa kick plate havf ing bearing faces in spaced relation thereon i. in position to be hidden from sight upon inspection from the front, and means carried by a car in correspondingly spaced relation adapted by engagement with said bearing faces for mounting said plate in upstanding position near the inner edge of the running board of the car adapted to hold the plate rigidly against movement in the direction transversely of the running boardv but adapted to yield readily for releasing the plate upon the application of pressure thereto in a direction at right angles to the transverse.

8. An automobile protection plate means, comprising in combination 'a kick plate having vertically disposed openings in spaced relation to each other therein, and retaining devices mounted on the running board of av carin correspondingly'spaced relation adapt- Y ed normally by releasable'engagement with said openings to hold said plate detachably in upstanding position.

9. An lautomobile protection plate means, comprising in combination a kick plate hav- 12. In an automobile protection plate means,`the combination of a kickV plate comprising a shallow housing, lugs depending from the upper edge of thekick plate in spaced relation tothe front wall and in spaced relation to each other and each substantially in the formv of a downwardly opening yoke, and headed retaining devices carried by the body of a carin correspondingly spaced re-V lation adapted by engagement with said lugs to hold the plate removably in position.l

13. An automobile protection plate means, comprising in combination a kick plate, and means adapted for engagement with the lower edge portion of said kick plate by sliding said plate longitudinally thereof for holding the plate detaehably in upstanding position near the inner edge .of the running board of a ear.

14. An automobile protection plate means,

comprising in combination a kick plate, and means adapted for engagement with the lower edge portion of said kick plate by sliding said plate longitudinally thereof for holding the plate detachably in upstanding position near the inner edge of the running board of a car and adapted normally to hold the plate yieldingly against reverse sliding movement.

f OLIVERl C. RITZ WOLLER.

ing vertically disposed openings in spaced relation to each other therein, a bar mounted on the running board of a car, and retaining devices carried by said bar in'corespondingly spaced relation adapted normally by rei y leasable engagement with said openings to hold said plate detachably in upstanding position. v

l0. Anfautomobile protection plate means,

`comprising in combination a kick plate liavi ing verticallyA disposed openings in spaced relation to each other therein, a bar mounted on the running board of a car, and retaining devices formedintegrally with said bar inl correspondingly spaced relation adapted normally by releasable engagement with said plate detachably in up- 

